Heating system

Abstract

A heating system includes heaters configured to heat a liquid contained in a tank. Each of the heaters includes a heating element, a temperature sensor coupled to the heating element, a control unit in communication with the heating element and the temperature sensor. The control unit is configured to control the heating element and the temperature sensor. The heating system includes a smart probe in communication with the control unit of one of the heaters and configured to monitor operation conditions of the heating system. The heating system includes a display and an indicator coupled to the control unit. The heaters are integrated in a mesh network operatable under Internet-of-Things (IoT) connectivity.

1 . A heating system, comprising:
 heaters configured to heat a liquid contained in a tank, wherein each of the heaters comprises a heating element, a temperature sensor coupled to the heating element, a control unit in communication with the heating element and the temperature sensor, wherein the control unit is configured to control the heating element and the temperature sensor;   a smart probe in communication with the control unit of one of the heaters and configured to monitor operation conditions of the heating system; and   a display and an indicator coupled to the control unit, wherein the heaters are integrated in a mesh network operatable under Internet-of-Things (IoT) connectivity.   
     
     
         2 . The heating system of  claim 1  wherein the control units are configured to shut down one or more heaters if any shutdown protocols are triggered. 
     
     
         3 . The heating system of  claim 2 , wherein the shutdown protocols comprise that the control unit comprises a system-on-chip (SOC) configured to read the temperature sensor and configured to shut down the heater when the sensor detects a temperature above a pre-determined temperature. 
     
     
         4 . The heating system of  claim 2 , wherein the shutdown protocols comprise that the control unit receives a communication from the smart probe indicating an operation condition outside a pre-determined range. 
     
     
         5 . The heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the smart probe comprises one or more sensors configured to monitor the operation conditions comprising a temperature of the liquid. 
     
     
         6 . The heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the smart probe comprises one or more sensors configured to monitor the operation conditions comprising a liquid level of the liquid. 
     
     
         7 . The heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the smart probe comprises one or more sensors configured to monitor the operation conditions comprising presences and/or concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a pH level of the liquid, and/or chemical composition and/or concentration of the liquid. 
     
     
         8 . The heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the heaters and the smart probe are configured such that the smart probe can be coupled to any of the heaters. 
     
     
         9 . The heating system of  claim 1  is configured to send a process data log to a user via email. 
     
     
         10 . The heating system of  claim 1  is configured to send operation information to a user, wherein the operation information comprises safety alerts, notifications and/or reset instructions, the operation conditions monitored by the smart probe, heater failure, heater overtemperature, and/or heater maintenance schedule. 
     
     
         11 . A computer-implemented method of operating a heating system comprising multiple heaters configured to heat a liquid contained in a tank, the method comprises:
 confirming presences of heater safety shutdown mechanisms that are built-in in firmware of each of the multiple heaters and a smart probe coupled to one of the multiple heaters;   starting operation of the multiple heaters upon a determination that the heater safety shutdown mechanisms are present;   shutting down a heater of the multiple heaters upon a determination that at least one of the heater safety shutdown mechanisms pertained to the heater is triggered;   notifying a user about a heater shutdown; and   re-starting the heater upon a determination that problems pertained to the triggered heater safety shutdown mechanism have been resolved.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , wherein the heater safety shutdown mechanisms comprise that:
 in each of the multiple heaters, a heating element of the heater is connected to a thermal-cut-off (TCO) switch;   a system-on-chip (SOC) is configured to read a temperature sensor coupled to each of the multiple heaters and is configured to shut down the heater when the temperature sensor detects a temperature above a pre-determined temperature; and   the smart probe detects an operation condition outside a pre-determined range.   
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , comprising sending reset instructions to the user to reset the shutdown heater. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , comprising refilling the liquid to the tank via a drain valve upon a determination that a liquid level is below a pre-determined liquid level. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , comprising draining the tank via a drain valve upon a determination that a liquid level is above a pre-determined liquid level. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , comprising sending maintenance reminders to the user upon a determination that the heating system has been running for a pre-determined number of hours. 
     
     
         17 . An immersion heater comprising:
 a heating element configured to heat a liquid;   a temperature sensor coupled to the heating element;   a control unit in communication with the heating element and the temperature sensor, the control unit configured to control the heating element and the temperature sensor, the control unit configured to communicate with, and control, at least one secondary control unit of a secondary immersion heater.   
     
     
         18 . The immersion heater of  claim 17 , wherein the control unit is configured to communicate with, and monitor, a smart probe, the smart probe configured to monitor the operation conditions comprising a temperature of the liquid. 
     
     
         19 . The immersion heater of  claim 17 , wherein the control unit is configured to shut down the heating element and/or the secondary immersion heater if any shutdown protocols are triggered. 
     
     
         20 . The immersion heater of  claim 17 , wherein the control unit is configured to send operation information to a user device, wherein the operation information comprises one of safety alerts, notifications, reset instructions, the operation conditions monitored by the smart probe, heater failure, heater overtemperature, and heater maintenance schedule.